October 3rd 1712 a warrant for the arrest of Rob Roy MacGregor by the orders of James Graham, Duke of Montrose.
On a day that’s kinda quiet I dug up this wee story on one of Scotland's most talked about characters.
It wasn’t the first warrant he had issued for his arrest, and might not even have been the last, I will just cover this wee bit of his story though...........
In 1711, Rob Roy borrowed money from the Duke of Montrose. The deal was that Rob would purchase some cattle, fatten them up and sell them in England. Both men would share the profits, but it’s said that Rob’s associate disappeared with the money. Despite trying all he could, Rob was unable to get the money back.
A warrant for Rob’s arrest was issued by the furious Duke of Montrose. Rob tried to clear his name, but he was declared an outlaw.
MacGregor then carried out a feud with Graham for some years. Montrose was responsible for corruption charges, earning himself unpopularity through the famous Jacobite.
There are several differing versions of Rob Roy’s life and the feud with Montrose, what is known is he was forced Rob off his land and his farm is said to have been torched, one tale also says his wife was raped by Montrose’s factor, Graham of Killearn, I’m not sure how much truth is in that version.
What is known is Rob mounted a campaign of thieving and lawlessness against Montrose. He would go around the tenants collecting their rent, saying it was in the name of Montrose. So when Killearn the factor turned up for the rent, it had been already paid Rob Roy.
Rob continued his exploits against Montrose until 1722, when Argyll brought about a reconciliation. Later, however, Rob was arrested and confined in Newgate Prison, London; he was pardoned in 1727 when about to be transported to Barbados.
Rob Roy became a legend in his own life time when author Daniel Defoe published a fictionalised account of his life, The Highland Rogue, in 1723. His resulting popularity may have influenced the decision to pardon him.
His fame increased when Sir Walter Scott published his novel Rob Roy in 1817, and he has continued to be a popular figure on stage and screen ever since.
The pics include a letter of “Obligation” by Rob Roy to deliver to James, Duke of Montrose, 60 Highland cows and a bull at ‘fourteen pounds Scotts per piece with ane bull to the bargane.’ and a small purse of deerskin with a rectangular brass clasp incised with dot-and-circle ornament, said to have been owned by MacGregor, both items are held by The National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.